FYI Ceiling Fan

[TomP]

Well since I have looked this thread up to reply to another thread, I figured I would update it.

The fan we bought to start with was the first generation, we had some very odd balance problems with it, would balance blowing down but not blowing up,?????. Fanimation the 80 year old company that makes the fan, wanted it back and quickly sent me another, I repacked it and returned it, they had me keep the remote as spare, for my trouble, and were they very helpful.

New fan, second generation had a better remote sensor. All in all (lets not start the mole stuff again please) I could not be happier with this fan. This is the most comfortable the house has ever been during winter, it has run on low speed 24/7 this winter, for some 3 months with wood heater and inferred heaters on. I have yet to do a detailed analysis of my savings, but I would say, looking at the LP tanks gas gages I paid for the fan, in none season.

[inetdog]

Hum, I see your point, but one heater, in a corner bathroom, really heats up the master bedroom area when the door is closed.

Once the infrared heater has raised the temperature of the walls, etc, it is not operating as a pure infrared heat source anymore. The ideal situation for infrared is where you want to heat the objects (people) in the near field without wasting energy heating air which will just blow away and be replaced by cold air. When the heater is in the bathroom and you are not, the infrared will not be much different from a circulating heater.

[TomP]

Theory, for what it's worth, says that it should not affect the perceived heat from the Infrared heaters, except maybe to make you feel cooler when close to them since it will make your skin temperature more dependent on air temperature than on inbound radiation. Look forward to hearing how practice matches up with theory.
Be sure to look at both actual air temp in different parts of the room AND at perception/comfort.
It should make better use of the heat from the stove if you have a temperature gradient from floor to ceiling without the fan.

Hum, I see your point, but one heater, in a corner bathroom, really heats up the master bedroom area when the door is closed. Guess we will have to wait and see, in any case I guess you can tell we are very happy with the addition of this new energy saver.

Currently we use 12" 12V fan that pulls 3 .5 watts, they are made for a large computer case, and CFM ,may be in the 70 to 120 range. It sits near the heater and runs 24/7, slowly moves the heated air around. As my home is built with 70's tech we still have part of a 12V system we make use of, we set these fans in the windows at night for cooling, along with with a large 16" 12V high CFM fan. I might can find names for these fans if anyone needs them.

[inetdog]

I am looking forward to seeing how well the fan will blend these different heat sources.

Theory, for what it's worth, says that it should not affect the perceived heat from the Infrared heaters, except maybe to make you feel cooler when close to them since it will make your skin temperature more dependent on air temperature than on inbound radiation. Look forward to hearing how practice matches up with theory.
Be sure to look at both actual air temp in different parts of the room AND at perception/comfort.
It should make better use of the heat from the stove if you have a temperature gradient from floor to ceiling without the fan.

[TomP]

I just did a careful amp test of our new fan. I made an error on the watt usage originally. Wide open, it pulls 31.2 W.

After a couple of weeks usage, we have found the we use the 1, 2 or 3 speeds if we are under it, with the fan blowing down, and only use the 5 and 6 the rest of the time with the fan blowing upward. It rolls air down the walls with a very gentle cooling flow.

The fairly efficient fan we replaced ran wide open all summer, and pulled some 30 or 35 watts, and it was only 36 or 40 inches Dia. so I think we are getting the the same airflow or C F M with the new fan at the #3 speed, and definitely at the #4 speed.

We heat with a soap stone stove, and some small infrared LP units in the corners of our house. I am looking forward to seeing how well the fan will blend these different heat sources.

Speed 1 = 4.8 W

2= 7.2 W

3= 12 W

4 = 14.4 W

5 = 21.6 W

6 = 31.2

[russ]

Many people have been off grid that long - You see them on the forums often.

Your previous posts went the way of all unpaid advertisements.

[TomP]

You can share thoughts - no problem but when it comes to pushing an item/brand that is more or less the same as a hundred others in it's class - not allowed


" to pushing an item/brand that is more or less the same as a hundred others "

This quote makes my point. I know you are busmoderatingng and can not keep with everything, plus you might getting PM's from the loud ones,

BUT THIS FAN STANDS ALONE, and I would say at that price, and CFM per watt, it is the bench mark. The fact that there are NOT 100's out there is why I shared this, I have looked at these for 3 years, waiting for one I could afford. Now y'all, we talk about brand names everywhere else, inverters, controllers, pumps. Where is the difference. Should I have vaguely suggested that people go look for some mysterious very high CFM per watt fan???

You are off grid that long I would expect you might have something else to share?[/QUOTE]

Well being off grid that long does not make you a guru, yes I have learned a lot, the hard way, no forums back then, just the library, with 1970's books.
I found the boards 3 years ago and came here to learn of the new controllers and inverters. Instead, at times I was met with disbelief that I had been off grid that long, and now it seems, to many, that if you do live off grid, to some your are a very selfish person. Consuming more resources than you will ever save.
While that is fact, it was not something we gave much thought to in the early 80's.

Still wondering what happened to all my prior post.
Cheers, to all.

[russ]

You can share thoughts - no problem but when it comes to pushing an item/brand that is more or less the same as a hundred others in it's class - not allowed

You are off grid that long I would expect you might have something else to share?

[TomP]

TOMP and SOLORONE are the same person promoting that ceiling fan on all the solar web sites.

I am confused, and do not understand the paranoia and suspicion of my post??????????????????


Yes TomP and SOLORONE, that's me and another name also on 6 more forums mostly photography, soo???

NO, NOT ON ALL SITES. I POSTED THIS BECAUSE I AM NOW GETTING TWICE THE AIR FLOW FOR LESS WATTS.

I did post my recent purchase, of this fan on ONE (1) other site. They did not get themselves all in a knot over there,, suggesting I am some profiteer or mole with ulterior motives. I have nothing to do with the fan company, Geeez folks!!

I thought this is forum, was where we could share our thoughts, needs, wants, info, and cool finds, The fan, for myself and my wife was a great purchase and we are really enjoying it, and looking forward to using it when the heat hits Georgia. That's it, just me, another off grider, 29 years now, trying help out.

[russ]

TomP - Forget promoting the fans - a repeat performance and I close the thread.

[Sunny Solar]

TOMP and SOLORONE are the same person promoting that ceiling fan on all the solar web sites.

[TomP]

Then first thing I would do is turn the fan on then my radio and TV's to see if there are any nasty surprises. Don't be surprised if you see the Bug Races on the TV's and hear them on your radio.

PWM controllers and MSW inverters used on GTI's are notorious generators of RFI. Just ask any Calaphonie driving up and down US Hwy 1 and 101 trying to listen to their car radios, especially AM.

Yes of course, this multi million $ company decide to produce a quality fan and distribute it though out the world, and at the same time, make the electronics in an inferior manner, so they will interfere with electronics in ones home.

In my 29 years living off grid I HAVE NEVER had any interference from quality DC items. At this point the only problem I have is with AC LED bulbs and certain TV channels, cuts signal strength by about 20%.

You, not living off grid, may not might know much about real life workings of off grid gear.

[TomP]

Are you advertising for that company? It is a fan the same and possibly equal to a dozen other brands - nothing more and nothing less.

No I am not a mole, or agent of the fan company, and also would like to know where my other post are, seems like they are gone, and my Post count, while not huge is starting from 0 again.

I Think Inet, said more than I ever could about how the fan works. I just wished to share a good product with the community, of course it would not have been a good post without sunking's negativity to any thing and anyone off grid.

[Sunking]

This one uses an electronic regulator circuit. (And using PWM for speed control with DC offers the same minimum loss control that SCRs offer for resistive loads but do not easily deliver with inductive loads like motors.)

Then first thing I would do is turn the fan on then my radio and TV's to see if there are any nasty surprises. Don't be surprised if you see the Bug Races on the TV's and hear them on your radio.

PWM controllers and MSW inverters used on GTI's are notorious generators of RFI. Just ask any Calaphonie driving up and down US Hwy 1 and 101 trying to listen to their car radios, especially AM.

[inetdog]

What's in a fan....

Are you advertising for that company? It is a fan the same and possibly equal to a dozen other brands - nothing more and nothing less.

If you look at the full range of fans at a site like Lowes and look at the Specifications tab for each, you will see efficiencies (CFM/watt) ranging from half to 1/10 what this fan lists. That is significant. Also, other fans with A/C motors have complicated multi-tap windings and multi-throw switches to allow different speeds. This one uses an electronic regulator circuit. (And using PWM for speed control with DC offers the same minimum loss control that SCRs offer for resistive loads but do not easily deliver with inductive loads like motors.)

I cannot guarantee that the fan is worth the price, but there are real advantages to the technology that it uses, and I have not come across others like it.